‘BOYATA £9m TARGET FOR FULHAM’

DEDRYCK BOYATA has been linked with a £9million move to Fulham before the English transfer window closes at 5pm on Thursday.

Reports in London claim the Premier League newcomers are chasing the Belgium World Cup centre-half – despite splashing massive cash on Swansea defender Alfie Mawson last week, a deal that could cost up to £20million.

Craven Cottage boss Slavisa Jovanovic has been awarded a huge transfer war chest by the club’s owners in a bid to remain in the top flight.

Boyata trained with the Hoops last week after returning from his extended break after his participation in the group stages for his nation in Russia.

The former Manchester City centre-back has only one year left to return on his current contract.

Brendan Rodgers has already admitted he wants the 27-year-old ace to remain at Parkhead and hopes to thrash out a new deal in the near future.

Jovanovic has been extremely active in the transfer market during the summer as he is given a huge transfer ward chest to keep his team in the top flight.

As well as Mawson, he has already bought Serbia striker Aleksandar Mitrovic for £22million, Spanish goalkeeper Fabri, from Besiktas, German forward Andre Schurrle on loan from Borussia Dortmund and Ivory Coast midfielder Jean Michael Seri and French defender Maxime le Marchand from Nice.

About Author

Acclaimed author Alex Gordon wrote the biography of Scotland international legend Denis Law, entitled 'King and Country'. He is a former columnist with World Soccer magazine and Scottish correspondent of respected European journal L'Equipe.